Page 25 of Sheltered By Love

“I had a rabbit when I was a kid. Got her from Maggie’s on the main street,” he says.

She smiles a little too prettily at him. “That’s where I got Roger from too,” she says.

Levi, the last to sit, peers down at the rabbit as he gnaws on a head of broccoli. “Is that a litter tray?”

Felicity replies warily. “Yes. He uses it just like a cat does.”

Levi’s eyes widen a fraction as he pulls the cap off his head. “Does he do any tricks?”

I snort a laugh, ready to mock him, but Felicity nods. “Yes, actually he does. Rabbits are really smart. He comes when I call him, and he can give me high fives.”

None of us speak, sure she’s making it up, crazy, or having a laugh at our expense.

With all the confidence of a magician’s assistant, she reaches into the fruit bowl and pulls out a banana.

When she gets off her chair and picks up the rabbit, I’m still not convinced.

All eyes are on her as she waits for a while letting the bunny hop around the kitchen, slowly peeling the banana as if we have all the time in the world.

Finally, when I’m about to remind her that we’re not here to mess around, she sits crossed-legged on the floor and pulls a little piece of banana off.

“Rogey, Come,” she says.

Jax leans forward a little, I can’t help but frown, and Levi is staring at Felicity in the way we used to look at all of Garrett’s girlfriends.

A combination of bewilderment and desire.

I open my mouth to tell her this is a waste of everyone’s time, but the damn rabbit lops straight over to her.

She smiles at him and rewards him with a tiny amount of banana.

As Jax and Levi decide applause is the correct response, I growl under my breath. “Can we get started now?”

Levi slams his heel into my shin underneath the table, and Jax silences me with a warning look I’m not dumb enough to ignore.

Felicity’s little show isn’t over, when Roger, or Rogey, or whatever its name is finishes his banana, she holds up her hand, and even I have to admit it’s kinda cool when his paw presses against her palm.

Jax is so delighted with the performance he’s smiling like the big dope he is. “That’s really impressive.”

When she gets to her feet, Levi’s expression has changed entirely. He’s looking at her like she’s a prize and he’s playing to win.

“You should put that on YouTube.”

Felicity’s smile tightens, and she pointedly ignores Levi.

Felicity

Stupid! How could I have been so stupid!

Of all the times to let my guard down, I pick now to let something slip, and with three complete strangers!

Months of keeping to myself, never giving any more information that was strictly necessary, and poof.

Just like that, I ruin it with the worst possible person at the worst possible time.

As I continue to scold myself, I search for the set of four cups Mrs. Davis gave me as a welcome gift.

No one seems to be speaking, so I keep my back turned and cross my fingers that they’ll find something else to discuss.

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